Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-05
SECTION TX.-FTRsT BATTLE BEFORE
NICSSBUKG.

While the feet of gun-boats under Com.
modore Porter at Grand Gulf below Vicks
burg engaged the enemy and McClernand's
corps was seeking landing nearby upon
the same date, April 20, 1853, Sherman de.
barked ten regiments above Vicksburg on
the Yazoo river at Haines' Bluff as if to at
tack the latter place while at the same
time rit was bombarded by eight gun
boats.
The whole demonstration at Haines'
Bluff was only feint intended to confuse
the enemy and divert his attention from
the real point of attack at Grand Gulf.
The Thirteenth corps effected landing
at Bruinsburg, Miss, April 30, and early
on the morning of May / met most Of
Grand Gulf garrison (Confedorate) under
General Bowen, seven miles inland from
Bruinsburg and within five miles Of Port
Gibson, the most important town in that
vicinity and located on Bayou Pierre. The
Federals were upon the southern side Of
this stream. To reach them the Grand
Gulf garrison had to cross the bayou and
as it was at the time high, they were
obliged to 20 to the only bridge in the vi
entity, the one at Port Gibson, but much
out of their way.
1t had been the hope OF the Federals to
secure possession of this bridge before the
arrival Of the Confederates; and it was the
hope of the latter to meet the invading col
umn at or very near the landing place,
Brunsburg.
But neither side had its wish gratiied |;
the Confederates reached the bridge at
Port Gibson, crossed upon it, and pushed
Eve miles beyond toward the river, when
their further course was interrupted by
the Federals in force on high ground. So
much for what Immediately preceded the
battle of Port Gibson. AS narrated in tho
previous number, the night of April 80 the
writer had slept beside acompanion aboard
river boat upon two bales of cotton, and
at early dawn next morning went ashore
with his companion and joined the regi-
ment then falling in line two or tsree
hundred yards distant. The writer had
just reached the regiment when, putting
his hand in his pocket, he found that three
/ or four dollars in money, all he had, was
! gone. He spoke of his misfortune, and re-
/ ceived a lecture from Wigton, his compan-
ion of the night previous, and some twenty
or thirty years his senior.
| Just like you" he began; railways los
/ ing something. Your carelessness will be
the ruin of you yet I'm thinkin' you'll
/ lose your head one of these days.
AS the firing from the battle then in
/ progress a few miles away could already
be heard, the last and greatest accident
was not at all an impossibility.
However, as the command was in the
heart of the enemy's country and was just
on the point OF cutting loose from its base
of supplies, the writer felt as though he
could not give up his lost money without
making an effort to find it. Learning that
few moments would elapse before the
command. would start, he ran back to the
boat, made his way to the bales of cotton,
| and turning them about, had stopped over
and was looking around carefully, thinking
may be the pocket book had slipped from
his pocket, when voice just behind was
heard calling him by name and asking
Have you found your pocket bookl de-
clare mines gone too.n Looking up, who
did the writer see but Wigton, his comrade
OF the night previous, who only moment
before was Gliding him for his ill-fortune
and negligence. II was clear now that
some one had stolen both pocket-books
while their owners slept.
The joke on Wigton, however, was toe
good too keep. and it was many day before
bis companions let him hear the last Of it.
Poor Wigton, his beard was quite gray
and for one in active service was quite old,
but he was brave, true soldier, and when
last seen was very lame and hobbling about